Cornelsen, Lena Klassen (1896-1961)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1961 Nov 16 p. 10

Birth date: 1896 Apr 25

text of obituary:

MRS. LENA CORNELSEN

Lena Klassen Cornelsen, daughter of John F. and Sarah Friesen Klassen, was born on April 25, 1896, in Butler County, Kansas. In 1904 she moved with her parents to Hooker, Okla. where she attended the day school.

On Oct. 5, 1916, she was united in holy matrimony to David R. Cornelsen at Hooker. This union, which lasted 45 years and 17 days, was blessed with five sons and five daughters. Three of the children died in infancy.

We moved onto a farm, and the Lord was good to us in spite of the fact that we were not yet saved. In 1927 we both accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour and were baptized by Rev. Henry R. Pauls and united with the Mennonite Brethren Church.

In 1930 we moved to Dalhart, Texas, where we farmed for about five years. In 936, after spending one year in Wichita, Kan, we moved to Reedley, Calif.

Our mother was a faithful prayer warrior and lived a life of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Aside from the fact that she had diabetes for many years, she enjoyed comparatively good health. She died unexpectedly Sunday morning, Oct. 22, 1961, after a brief illness, reaching the age of 65 years, five months, and 27 days.

Those who remain to mourn her departure are her husband, of Reedley; four sons, Harry of Dinuba, Calif., Clarence and Marvin of Reedley, and John of Fresno, Calif.; three daughters, Helen, Mrs. Leonard Dick of Reedley, Mildred, Mrs. Leonard Reimer of Fresno, and Glynna, Mrs. Lindy Avakian of Hollywood; three brothers, John, Herman and Sam Klassen, all of Adams, Okla.; five sisters, Anna, Mrs. Henry E. Cornelsen of Reedley, Minnie, Mr. Frank C. Pauls of Reedley, Bertha, Mrs. Peter Krause of San Jose, Elsie, Mrs. Barney Pauls of Reedley, Adina, Mrs. Frank Friesen of Adams, Okla.; four daughters-in-law; three sons-in-law; 13 grandchildren.

The memorial service was held in the Mennonite Brethren Church of Reedley on Oct. 25,with Rev. Dan Friesen and Rev. Henry L. Janzen officiating. — TheFamily.